Leadership
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Barry
Senior Pastor, Myanmar Mission,
Prayer Meeting Teacher
MDiv Baptist Bible Seminary, PA
B.P.S. – S.U.N.Y. College of Technology
A.A.S. Onondaga Community College
Email Barry
989.775.7101 ext. 109
Barry and a team planted what has become Grace Church 22 years ago. He and his wife Suzanne are originally from Syracuse, New York. He has committed his life to doing whatever he, his family, and Grace Church can do to make disciples of Jesus while fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission.
Barry enjoys reading Scripture, prayer and studying the culture (including sports, politics, history) and its ramifications upon the life of the Christ-follower, the church. He enjoys working out and learning whatever he can about living a healthy lifestyle.
Jason
Associate Pastor, Communications Director, Facilities, Production, Elder, Prayer Meeting Teacher
Graduate of Mount Pleasant High School; President – Campus Religious Leaders’ Association at Central Michigan University;
Email Jason
989.775.7101 ext. 101
Jason first starting attending Grace Church as a senior at Mt. Pleasant high school. He met his wife Ashley while serving at Grace and together have been married for seventeen years.
Jason started serving with our Construction Ministry in 2001 and participated in a summer internship the following summer. He oversees our construction and production ministries, helps manage church finances, coordinates apprenticeships and is a part of our team of Elders. He also teaches at Cripplegate Prayer meetings.
Ryan
Associate Pastor, Children’s Ministry Director, Elder, Prayer Meeting Teacher
B.S. Education, Central Michigan University
Literacy Coach, Fancher Elementary
Ryan has been attending Grace Church since 2000. He and his wife Betsy have been married 19 years. Ryan has worked for Mt. Pleasant Public Schools for 17 years, spending most of that time as a 2nd Grade Teacher full time. He currently works at Fancher Elementary as a part-time Literacy Coach.
Ryan started serving in our Children’s Ministry shortly after coming to Grace Church and he oversees our Children’s Ministry still today. He is also part of our team of Elders, teaches at the Cripplegate Prayer meetings, and assists with many others aspects of ministry at Grace.
Phil
Associate Pastor – Worship & Media, Elder, Twelve17 Coffee Roasters,
Prayer Meeting Teacher
B.S. Community Development, Central Michigan University, Associate Director of Learning Media Production, CMU’s Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support
Phil served on staff at Grace Church for 10 years, and has been at CMU full-time for 10 years. He’s married to Melissa, his beautiful wife of 19 years.
Phil has been playing guitar for 25 years and writing songs for most of that time as well. He’s also observed the coffee production process first-hand from farm to cup as a part of the leadership team of Twelve17 Coffee Roasters.
Suzanne
Women’s Ministry Leader, Myanmar Mission
B.S. Nursing, Central Michigan University, Bible Degree, Baptist Bible College, PA
Registered Nurse
Suzanne has been serving at Grace since its beginnings. She is Pastor Barry’s wife and they’ve been married for 30 years. Her primary ministry focus is leading women to the feet of Christ through coordinating women’s prayer meetings, Bible studies, and retreats. In addition to leading, loving, and serving the women of Grace, Suzanne also helps with discipleship and leadership development.
Suzanne loves reading, studying the Bible, and running.
Dan
Director – Upper Children’s Ministry,
Prayer Meeting Teacher, Elder
B.F.A. Theatre Design & Technology, Coordinator for Risk Management and Environmental Health & Safety, CMU’s Office of Risk Management
As the son of Scott Koefoed, one of the founding pastors, Dan Koefoed has been part of Grace Church since the very beginning. He started by serving on the Production Team which led him into his current vocation. Currently, Dan serves in Children’s Ministry.
Dan and his wife Bethany have 3 boys who love to wrestle and a sweet little girl. He is passionate about seeing people come to know Christ and realize their full potential as children of God through the local church.
Betsy
LIl’ Church (Pre-K & Kindergarten) Leader, Women’s Ministry, Deaconess
Studied Dietetics at Central Michigan University
Betsy has been a volunteer at Grace since 2001. Following eight years on the Hospitality team, she now serves kids and families in Children’s Ministry. Betsy enjoys teaching and praying over our four and five year olds in Lil Church. She also loves to use her gifts to bring a team of women together and plan for Women’s Ministry events throughout the year.
Her favorite activity is getting outside to run, no matter the season.
John
Twelve17 Coffee Roasters Manager, Prayer Meeting Teacher, Small Group Leader, Deacon
Employed at Red Lobster
Email John
989.775.7101 ext. 106
Stefanie
Nursery (Infants & 1 Year Olds) Leader, Women’s Ministry, Deaconess
B.S. Business Administration, Central Michigan University, Women’s Track & Cross Country Coach at Beal City High School
Stefanie has been attending Grace Church since late 1998. She and her husband Brian have been married for 19 years, and have been blessed with six awesome children. She has homeschooled each of their children through the 6th grade thus far; currently three of their children attend Beal City school. Stefanie enjoys serving as an assistant cross country and track coach in Beal City.
She started serving on the Hospitality Team many years ago, but has been serving in Children’s Ministry now for over 12 years. She currently leads a Sunday team, serving babies, one-year-olds and their families. Stefanie is also involved in Women’s Ministry at Grace and is currently serving as a deaconess.
Bethany
Kidz Church (3rd & 4th Grade) Leader, Women’s Ministry, Deaconess
B.S. Education, Central Michigan University
Bethany is a CMU grad and was a local elementary school teacher before deciding to stay home with her own 4 children. She and Dan have been married for 11 years. She is blessed to do two of her most favorite things everyday… be home with her family and teach children!
Chad
Lil’ Church (Pre-K & Kindergarten) Leader, Prayer Meeting Teacher, Small Group Leader, Deacon
B.S. Education, Central Michigan University, Employed at The Wildlife Gallery
Chad has been married to his wife Kim for 20 years and they have four children. Chad has been coming to Grace Church since around 1998.
He has called Grace Church “home” for over 20 years, and he has served in Children’s Ministry, Construction, and a whole host of different projects and outreach events throughout the years.
Ashley
Totz Church (2 & 3 Year Olds) Leader, Women’s Ministry, Small Group Leader, Deaconess
B.A.A. Art and a minor in Interpersonal Communication, Central Michigan University
Brian
Kids Church (3rd & 4th Grade) Teacher and Leader, Prayer Meeting Teacher, Deacon
Bachelors in Sports Medicine, Minor in Exercise Science, Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Manager of Rehab Services for the Central Region and Gladwin, Mid-Michigan Medical Center
Megan
five6 (5th & 6th Grade) Teacher and Leader, Worship Leader, Women’s Ministry, Small Group Leader, Deaconess
B.S. in History and Social Sciences, Central Michigan University
Megan has been attending Grace Church since 2003. She grew up just west of Grand Rapids and has a special place in her heart for the Lake Michigan coast. She has been married to her husband, Jon, for 12 years and they have three kids. Together they enjoy biking, camping and playing games.
Megan first began serving at Grace Church on the Worship Team. She then helped out with Student Ministries and eventually got plugged into Children’s Ministry, where she currently leads a weekend team in five6 and helps out with worship. More recently, she has reunited with the Worship Team and serves with them as well. Megan has also had the privilege of helping to plan several Women’s Retreats and is always up for having fun!
